On Wednesday 17th March, the Institute brought the glitz and the glamour of its Awards for Excellence 2020 celebration direct to its members’ living rooms.
Postponed due to Covid-19, the awards celebrated and honoured the very best individuals and organisations throughout the profession who have played an integral part of shaping the future of the profession and ensuring logistics and transport kept the UK moving during the last 12 months.
Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, Patron, CILT, delivered a special virtual message to the award winners, CILT members and the profession, thanking them for their incredible work in responding to the unprecedented events of the last year.
She said: ‘The CILT Awards for Excellence is now in its 28th year, yet during this time perhaps there has not been a more challenging period for us than the one we have faced over the last 12 months. Never in the post-war era has the country relied so much upon our profession and its network of hidden heroes, whether that be logistics, passenger transport or supply chains.
‘Our hidden heroes have kept the country moving forward, and you have all played an integral role in facilitating journeys for key workers and delivering essential goods to the nation’s doorsteps, hospitals, supermarkets and countless other vital places. The importance of what you do cannot be overstated. Our profession and its hidden heroes make possible all that we rely upon and all that is essential to our everyday life.
‘The profession also has a wider and key role to play in achieving the shared global challenge of meeting our net-zero emissions target. With these challenges comes great endeavour, ingenuity and creativity, as well as a renewed appreciation of what really matters in life. Adversity often brings out the best in human spirit and I am proud of the way our profession and all its sectors have come together to keep people and goods moving in these most testing of times.’
More than 500 guests, delegates and finalists watched the event, which was streamed live to bedrooms, kitchens and living rooms, and to offices hosting their own socially distanced celebrations.
CILT’s award for outstanding achievement, the Sir Robert Lawrence Award, was presented by Ian Clough FCILT, Managing Director – Network Logistics, DHL Supply Chain, to Elaine Allitt, Easylink Co-ordinator, Nottingham Community Transport.
To celebrate this incredibly challenging year, the Institute presented its President’s Award – celebrating and remembering those individuals who encapsulate everything the Institute stands for, including hard-work, dedication, innovation and an unrivalled commitment to raising the profile of the sectors CILT represents – to the Logistics and Transport Profession.
Steve Gooding FCILT, President, CILT(UK), said: ‘This year, transport and logistics and its associated supply chains have been thrown into the global spotlight. Through these very hard times, societies now have a greater appreciation of the importance and impact that our profession has on their daily lives and now, finally, our profession and those working within it are rightly regarded as essential key workers.
‘At CILT, we know that many organisations and operators exemplify excellence throughout the sector, but do not receive the recognition they deserve. We wanted to take this opportunity to shine a light on those who put food on our tables, clothes on our backs and furniture in our homes – even in the hardest of times.’
The winners of the CILT Awards for Excellence 2020 are:
DIVERSITY CHAMPION
Sponsored by Michael Page
John Sidebotham, Programme Manager – Intelligent Infrastructure Programme, Network Rail
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT
Sponsored by Tritax Big Box
Nottingham City Transport
FREIGHT TRANSPORT
Sponsored by FORS
Kuehne+Nagel
HEALTH, SAFETY & WELLBEING
Sponsored by Arco
XPO Logistics
OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT
Sponsored by Michael Page
Royal Mail Group
PASSENGER TRANSPORT
Sponsored by FORS
Hovertravel
PEOPLE DEVELOPMENT
Sponsored by The Open University
XPO Logistics
PRESIDENT’S AWARD
The Logistics and Transport Profession
RISING STAR
Sponsored by XPO Logistics
Siobhan Afford, Site Manager, Gist
SIR ROBERT LAWRENCE AWARD
Sponsored by DHL
Elaine Allitt, Easylink Co-ordinator, Nottingham Community Transport
SUPPLY CHAIN INNOVATION
Sponsored by Clipper Logistics
ZigZag Global
TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION
Sponsored by Tritax Big Box
Network Rail
TRANSPORT POLICY AND PLANNING
Royal HaskoningDHV
WAREHOUSE OPERATIONS
Superdry with Hikrobot and Invar Systems